The Fraudulent
and Persuasive Nature of Cults
There appears to be no better source of organized information
on cults than what I have seen at the Rick
Ross site. Rather than try to devote the time to providing
content myself, I recommend you visit there for an in-depth look
at how people can lose not only their money, but themselves as
well.
Also informative Cult Information.
I believe that the "church" of Scientology is a mind-control
cult, though they heavily promote a public presence and misrepresent
who they are. The unwary are promised all kinds of things
never delivered - increased IQ, total memory recall, super-human
abilities, cures for serious, life-threatening diseases, etc.
When they complete one level of "training," the next
level is supposed to be even better, but "around the next
corner" never comes. Those who reach the "top," after
spending about $400,000, have never been able to demonstrate
any of these promised conditions.
They even had the Fox network put an 800 number on the moving
banner below the TV coverage of what happened on September 11,
2001, advertising mental health assistance (to make it look like
a legitimate Mental Health Association ad), until someone recognized
the number and told Fox about it (it was immediately removed,
after running for about two hours).
In addition, they vigorously pursue those who criticize them
and have had members totally "disconnect" from family
(even immediate family) and friends who disagree.
Purporting to be a "religion," without any deity, love, prayer,
soup-kitchens, or worship, they get away with violating minimum-wage
laws, unlawful imprisonment, IRS rules, and child-labor
laws. Their private schools are not accredited (except by
themselves), and their "NarCONon" drug rehab program
does not work, except as recruitment of the vulnerable. ("NarcAnon" is
an uncopyrighted "street" name for the legitimate 12-step
Narcotics Anonymous program, and is nothing like NarcOnon.)
They recently tried to force Google to shut down an important
reference site (Operation Clambake - www.xenu.net),
until public protest overcame this gross violation of free speech. At
the present time, there are numerous legal wranglings (wrongful
death trial scheduled for January) over the 1995 death of a Scientologist,
Lisa McPherson, while in their "care."
Though physically healthy, she suffered a psychotic breakdown
after reaching their highly touted state of "clear," which
is supposed to be the ultimatum in mental health. She was
placed in isolation by the cult for 17 days, where she died of
severe dehydration, malnutrition, and eventually a pulmonary embolism. Autopsy
photos showed multiple bruises and cockroach bites. The criminal
trial was dismissed, primarily for lack of evidence.
There are dozens of web sites with documentation of their abuses.
"Scientology's Scandals"
http://www.lermanet.com/scientologyscandals/index.html
For a well-documented perspective about founder L. Ron Hubbard,
read: "Bare-Faced Messiah"
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/bfm/bfmconte.htm
For a more intimate description about the Tech and LRH, read: "A
Piece of Blue Sky"
http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/apobs/
For a personal description of "what it feels like" to be part
of the cult - "My Nine Lives in Scientology"
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/pignotti/
"The Road to Xenu"
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/xenu/
http://www.holysmoke.org/dm/dmayo002.htm
WordNerd 09/24/02
For a most horrifying tale of a Drug
Rehabilitation Program called the Straights Inc.
Canadian Resources for Cult Victim
Support
Saskatchewan Citizens Against Mind Control (SCAMC)
1337 College Dr.
Saskatoon, Sask. S7N 0W6
306-966-8500
Manitoba Cult Awareness Center
Box 31, Norwood Grove
Winnipeg, Man. R2H 3B8
204-488-0741
Info Cult
#305-5655 Park Ave.
Montreal, Que. H2V 4H2
514-274-2333
Council on Mind Abuse (COMA)
40 St. Clare Ave., Unit #203
Toronto, ON M4T 1M9
416-944-0080
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